The vignette

I like to create vignettes in the garden.  When creating a new border, I conjure it up in my mind's eye and try to imagine how the colors and textures will flow at its peak.  Last fall, I planted just such a grouping of bulbs under a young crab apple.  I hoped the light blue of the camassia cusickii and forget-me-nots would blend with the vibrant purple orbs of allium aflatunense "Purple Sensation," the shades of which would be reflected in the light and dark pinks of the apple blossoms -- all set off by the brilliant yellows and whites of the narcissus at their feet.

It almost worked.  Unfortunately, the narcissus bloomed a week too early, whether from my miscalculation in species (early bloomer v. mid-spring bloomer) or the unseasonably warm temps, I don't know.  Nonetheless, there were 3-4 days when the pinks, purples and blues were stunningly complimentary of one another.  However, I missed the photo op, which was prematurely shattered when the strong winds of the last few days removed all of the apple blossoms.  Modification: once the leaves of the narcissus die back, I will dig up the bulbs and in the fall, they will be relocated to the orchard where they will be allowed to "naturalize."  I will replace them in this border with a mid-spring yellow tulip instead.

Note the spent heads of the narcissus and the lack of apple blossoms, although I still love the burgundy leaves of this crab apple.  The forget-me-nots are in their first year; still too small to show in this photo, but they are tucked in amidst the narcissus.  Next year, the blue and yellow of the forget-me-nots and camassia while look stunning against the yellow tulips. There is always next year.

"What is a weed?"

"But a plant whose virtues have never been discovered." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Clearly Emerson hired gardeners and never weeded a day in his life!  

Nora and I spent days clearing weeds and straw mulch (winter covering) from the beds in the kitchen garden, and I spent another couple planting seeds and transplants.  As you can see, the garlic (planted last November), onions, shallots and strawberries are looking good.  We also have signs of life among the beets, carrots, kale, swiss chard and lettuces - all planted several weeks ago.  Recently sown: cucumbers, summer squashes, potatoes, green beans, black beans, marigolds, borage, chamomile, chives, leeks, edamame, cosmos, zinnias, echinacea, sweet peas. and calendula.  Still waiting in the wings for the last of the cold evenings to receed - 5 different types of tomatoes and 2 types of sweet peppers.

Hollyhock border

Always a work in progress, the mixed borders are coming along nicely this season.  Above is the "hollyhock" border; this is it's second year and already it has easily doubled in size - and not all as a result of my effort.  Hollyhocks, valerian, and poppies are all self-sowing plants - meaning they drop their seed in the fall and new plants appear in the spring.  Magical.  To help things along I added another 10 or so new hollyhock seedlings that I sowed inside this March/April, as well as a couple of valerian seedlings. Hollyhocks are biennial, so although a sizeable mound forms the first season, they will not bloom until their second year; then they are spent.  But if you have a decent number of plants, they will self-seed as mentioned above and you can continue to enjoy this marvelous cottage garden flower in your border for years to come.

The grouping of white blossoms above are Japanese Anemones; this plant sends out horizontal shoots much like bee balm, so also doubles in size every year.  In fact, like bee balm, it can quickly take over a border if its expansion is not contained by some well-considered removal of shoots. In the forefront are some bearded iris ("Hemstiched") and the flashes of red in the background are the blossoms of the coral bells, and the tops of penstemon.  The tripods are in place to support the clematis that will, if the bunnies don't get to them first, climb and produce a profusion of white blossoms within in a few weeks.

Earning their keep

Some of the girls are out today helping Lynn weed the blueberries.

Chickens and ducks can be pretty helpful with the removal of garden pests. You really want to limit them to mature plant areas. They disturb the soil too much for newbies.

And some are just posing

Lilacs

A sure sign of spring in the northeast.  We have several varieties blooming in shades of purple and pink, and at slightly different times.

The "old ladies" - these were here when we bought the property

These were relocated to the front garden in 2009

"Ludwig Spaeth" -- deep purple blossoms, usually opens in early June but our unseasonably warm temps have caused an early bloom

Signs of spring

This has been a crazy spring weather-wise: one day pushing 90 degrees with evenings in the 60s and next (like today), highs of low 60s with the nights grazing the freeze zone....and little rain over the last couple of weeks.  Nevertheless, spring has arrived and the garden is coming alive with color.

Forget-me-not

Allium aflatunense "Purple Sensation"

Crab apple in bloom

Bearded Iris "Hemstitched" 

New tenants at Sleepy Dog

Lynn put a bird house up on a fence post at the tail end of last summer and it did not take long for someone to claim it. We now have Tree Swallows nesting in it. These two are absolutely adorable so of course I had to take some pics. (without getting too close)

beautiful blue male

Female standing guard. apparently I looked suspicious.

Rainy days and Mondays

Don't get me down. We are getting some much welcomed rain after an unseasonably hot and dry week. So I took some pics of tulips this a.m.

It's due time for some color

Spring morning shots

This is one of those mornings after a rain. I love it so I took some random pics.